MCA (Master of Computer Applications) is a professional master’s degree in computer science. It focuses on providing a theoretical as well as practical training to students in the related field.MCA course duration is 3 years and for lateral entry students, the course duration is 2 years. In 10+2 course or any one year of graduation, students must have mathematics as a subject. Any graduate who is appearing for the final year degree examination in any discipline (Science, Commerce, Arts & Engineering) is eligible to apply. MCA course explains in-depth and extensive knowledge about computer applications.
| Degree | Masters |
| Full-Form | Master of Computer Application |
| Duration | Course Duration of Master of Computer Application [MCA] is 3 Years. |
| Age | No Age Limit |
| Minimum Percentage | 45-50% in undergraduate |
| Subjects Required | Mathematics in 10+2 or graduation level |
| Average Fees Incurred | Average MCA course fee ranges from INR 30,000 - 2.4 L per annum |
| Similar Options of Study | MCM, M.Sc (Computer Science), B.Tech (Computer Science and Engineering), BCA+MCA, MCS |
| Average Salary Offered | Average MCA course salary is INR 5.3 L per annum |
| Employment Roles | Senior Software Engineer, Software Engineer, Software Developer, Sr. Software Engineer / Developer / Programmer, Team Leader (IT), Project Manager (IT), Lead Software Engineer, etc. |
| Placement Opportunities | HCL Technologies Ltd., Tata Consultancy Services Limited, Accenture, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp, Capgemini, Tech Mahindra Ltd, Sapient Corporation, Oracle Corp., Mindtree Consulting etc. |
MCA course is a Computer Science PG Degree whose curriculum is primarily based on the development of application software in diverse areas. However, Computer Science Major program also focuses on providing the students with a thorough and sound background in theoretical and application-oriented courses relevant to the latest computer software development.
MCA duration ranges from 3 or 2-year course that prepares a candidate to become a quality software professional with the advanced and updated knowledge base, which is necessary to meet the needs of software industries. The MCA course program focuses on providing a sound theoretical background as well as good practical exposure for students in the relevant areas.
The MCA course syllabus is intended to provide modern, industry-oriented education in applied computer science. It aims at producing trained professionals who can successfully meet the demands of the information technology industry.
As the IT and the software industry are dynamic and fast-growing, all the programs are designed keeping in view, the requirements of the industry. Also aims at the understanding of the fundamentals of computing among the students so that they can compete in the present-day global situation.
The technology sector is booming the demand for computer science engineers is more than ever. An MCA course graduate can work in profiles such as:
Students can opt any one the specialization during the last year of course:
Admissions in MCA course is given on the basis of all India basis entrance examinations. Many top colleges and universities in India offer admission on the basis of merit list prepared as per the marks scored in the entrance test. Generally, the entrance examination is based on Mathematics and reasoning. There is a different exam pattern for each entrance test.
Some MCA entrance examinations are listed here:
A lot of Job opportunities are available in the field of MCA. Candidates having an MCA degree may have great employment opportunities in top IT companies and top consultancy firms.
At present, with the advancement of IT & Communication systems, people with good computer application skills are highly demanded in the IT sector. MCA qualified students can find jobs easily in government and private sector. Numerous job is available in both sectors. Candidates can get profiles as per their skills and calibre.
If you pursue the course from a well-recognized university, you will get better jobs and career opportunities in this field. You can work in various areas such as banking, networking, IT companies, desktop publishing, etc.
During the initial time of joining, candidates are provided with a few months of training. Thereafter, they can work on Live projects. MCA candidate can start their career as an entry-level trainee programmer. In the beginning, they have to work in different roles and areas. Responsibilities of an IT professional is to develop, test and maintain software/applications.
The several job opportunities and areas of interest for employment for graduates of MCA course are listed as under:
The postgraduates in MCA are hired by the private IT companies as well as government organizations. The recruiters are as follows: